189 ATHLETES IN THE IFBB WORLD WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS!
2006 World Women Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships and Men Fitness Championships were a great event, with record number of participants – 189 athletes from 40 countries. It was a real international festival of women’s physique and beauty. Also strong and flexible men’s bodies could be seen in the men’s fitness class, with competitors from the non-European countries for the first time.
All of them performed on the spacious stage of the Parc Colomer Sport Center in Santa Susanna on Friday and Saturday, September 22-23, since Sunday was reserved for the Grand Prix Show of professional bodybuilders, accompanied by the Expo trade exhibitions of food supplements and sport equipment manufacturers. All events created the 2006 Santa Susanna Fitness Weekend to follow the example of the Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas.
The name “Olympia” was used very often in Santa Susanna, since the Pro Show was the last one before this year “Olympia” to be held next weekend and as many as 28 pro bodybuilders came to this show to try their last chance to qualify to the “Olympia”. Only three of them: Francisco Bautista, Markus Ruhl and Dennis Wolf used up this chance and will go to Las Vegas very soon. They will join Gunter Schlierkamp, Dennis James and Ronny Rockel to form our “European Team” for the Olympia. First time since 2002 Europe will be represented by so many athletes.
All participants of the World Championships and Pro Grand Prix as well as fans and guests were accommodated in several hotels located along the Santa Susanna sunny beaches but the official meetings and weigh-in took place in the Aqua Onabrava Hotel. It began with the Technical Meeting for judges and delegates, followed by the weigh-in and welcome dinner given by Mr. Joan Campollier, the Mayor of Santa Susanna.
The Farewell Banquet was the closing part of the Fitness Weekend, during which a special movie with the great moments of these events from the past three years was screening. It was touching and fanny to see the champions, officials and promoters once again, often in unconventional situations.
During free time, all participants could relax at the swimming pools, beaches and various entertaining places. It was a fantastic opportunity for nearly 30 official photographers to shoot beautiful women in their bikinis and for journalists to make short interviews with the champions.
Women bodybuilding was dominated by experienced competitors from Italy, Russia and Romania but athletes from Canada, United States, Slovakia, Ukraine and Germany also entered the finals. Claudia Partenza of Italy repeated her success from the recent European Championships and won the lightweight class, up to 52 kg. Alina Cepurniene of Lithuania climbed up to the top of her career, finishing ahead of the two multiple world champions: Jana Purdjakova of Slovakia and Irina Muntean of Romania. The heavyweight class was a real match between Russia and Italy – both teams entered two athletes into the finals. This time the Russian team was better, with Elena Shportun and Alevtina Goroshinskaya at the top two places. Italian star Carla Cabau took the bronze medal and her team-mate Giuditta Magazzino finished fifth but all of them presented outstanding, artistic routines, seeking new ways of expression.
Top elegance and excellent stage presentation was displayed by the best fitness ladies like Oksana Grishina of Russia, Nathalie Tabouillet of Canada and Rosana Muller of Germany (medal winners in the 164 cm class) as well as Natalia Mikhailova (Russia) Jana Stockelova (Czech Republic) and Monika Szekely (Hungary – medal winners in the taller class. Grishina experienced great moments, being announced also the overall champion. 31 athletes competed in the women fitness categories but it was enough – 14 fitness man battled for their trophies and all of them were up to the mark.
Dmitri Yashankin of Russia won his class, repeated his 2004 success. One of the men fitness precursors, Frantisek Bartos of the Czech Republic, finished second, followed by two European champions: Tomas Pietras (Poland) and Stanislav Zaynilov (Russia). Three fitness categories – three gold medals for Russia! Outstanding success of this national team and its choreographers with a vivid imagination.
Women bodyfitness reached the level of popularity predicted by the sport experts few years ago. Nearly 110 girls came to Santa Susanna to display their perfectly shaped bodies in bikini and swimsuit attires. Slovak, Czech and Russian teams usually brought splendid athletes but this time Italian, Swedish and Brazilian beauties also pulled out medals. Gloria Fontana (Italy), Linda Fodor-Egelstig and Cecilia Benjaminson (both Sweden), Larissa Reis (Brazil) and Monica Hoyer (Norway) went back to their homes with medals.
Barbora Benesova (Czech Republic) and Katarina Verbovska (Slovakia) run an incredible duel being tied in all three rounds in 163 cm category! Finally, the 2005 European Champion, Benesova, took the title but the Relative Placement method should be applied to the final round of the judge’s scores. Verbovska, two-time world champion, had to accept the silver medal.
2004 European overall fitness champion Gabriela Kubesova of the Czech Republic gave no chance to her rivals in 168 cm category and Sonya Kopcokova added the world title to her European title won in June in 168+ cm division. Silver medal went to the Serbian finesse long-leg fitness diva, Ljuba Pantovic-Subotic, who made a tremendous progress compared to the recent years, when she was always out of the finals.
The battle for the overall title was also very exciting, while Benesova and Kopcokova earned 10 points each and the Relative Placement method had to be applied once again to select the winner.
There was one more crucial moment in the IFBB history: the Championships were world-wide available through life webcast! You could sit on your beloved armchair in front on your computer and watch the champions performing on the stage. IFBB is entering the 21st century with this new, fascinating possibility. If you don’t have the proper equipment, you will be able to watch the event on your TV screen, since several TV companies, including Eurovision, had been there and will broadcast 55-minute reports.
2006 EBFF CONGRESS
DR. RAFAEL SANTONJA ELECTED FOR THE NEXT TERM (NEW)
2006 European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation annual Congress was held in Bratislava, as usual in conjunction with the European Men Championships. The Congress took place in the Congress Hall of the Slovenska Sporitelna – the largest Slovak bank, located 5-minute walk from the Nivy Hotel, where all delegates were accommodated in. So, we were very close to big money what may be treated as a good sign for the EBFF future.
EBFF President, Dr. Rafael Santonja, first gave Mr. Ben Weider’s regards to all delegates. Then he recalled his first trip to Slovakia, together with Mr. Weider, IFBB President, when they were walking on the streets with Mr. Michal Capla and dreaming about the powerful Slovak bodybuilding movement. Recently these dreams came true, when Slovakia finished as the best team in the ranking included all 2005 IFBB World Championships.
Moreover, there were 5 different TV channels broadcasting the event from Bratislava. Nobody could dream about it 20 years ago. Dr. Santonja also emphasized the family spirit inside the EBFF, comparing it to the famous Poland’s Solidarity movement atmosphere. And this spirit was visible during the Congress proceedings and the elections.
At the beginning of the Congress, as usual, top EBFF Awards were presented to outstanding people for their outstanding activity. Mr. Michal Capla, Slovak Federation President, was honored with the EBFF Bodybuilding Award. He has been a leader of the national federation since its formation in 1991 but he was also a national champion in 1975-77. He is a graduated bodybuilding and powerlifting trainer, finishing the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sport in 1988. Moreover, Slovak Federation under his leadership already organized all three IFBB World Championships and the recent European Men Championships.
EBFF Distinguished Service Award went to two General Secretaries of different National Federations:
- Arunas Petraitis of Lithuania, who has been working at this position nearly 15 years and is also well-known bodybuilding historian and statistician.
- Peter Uricek of Slovakia, who has been working at this position since 1993, former national and European (1980) bodybuilding champion and national bodybuilding coach.
Then EBFF Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals were presented to numerous Slovak officials involved in bodybuilding and fitness development in this area and in organization of the 2006 European Championships.
Following this ceremony, EBFF top officials delivered their term’s reports, covering the whole 4-year activity from the EBFF Foundation Congress in 2002 in Minsk, Belarus. The President’s Report was the most comprehensive one, including all important problems and activities. Our President mentioned that due to the EBFF officials’ intellectual potential and experience, EBFF has been playing a key role in the IFBB family, proposing a lot of new ideas and solutions to improving our international activity and to satisfy our athletes, fans and media. Among these new ideas proposed by the EBFF and then accepted by the IFBB Congress are the following concepts which revolutionized the physique sports:
- Introduction of women body-fitness in 2002
- Introduction of men fitness in 2004
- Introduction of classic bodybuilding with weight/height limits in 2005
- Introduction of many new categories in all IFBB disciplines, including men bodybuilding over 100 kg class.
- Introduction of many improvements in the Technical Rules, including zero-point status of the finalists in the bodybuilding finals.
Despite of organization of the continental championships, Europe is still the best and unfailing place for promotion of the world championships. During the term 2002-2006 EBFF staged:
- One World Men Championships (Moscow).
- Four World Women Championships (Brno and 3 times Santa Susanna).
- Four World Juniors & Masters Championships (Espinho, Tenerife, Opava, Budapest).
It means that EBFF organized 75% of the world championships in this period of time. In 2006, once again, all three world championships will be held in Europe (Ostrava, Santa Susanna and Agrigento).
Other concepts have affected the European activity only:
- Introduction of the new continental event – European Juniors and Masters Championships.
- Introduction of the new contest series for the top continental athlete – Euro Elite Champions Tour, with money prizes up to 15th place.
- Starting educational courses for trainers.
- Running lectures for judges, coaches and officials at almost all continental and world championships held in Europe.
- Publishing educational materials on doping alternatives under the title – “Doping – A Road To Nowhere”, available in a printed edition and on-line version.
EBFF has also started a wide-ranged information activity and cooperation with media. In 2003 the EBFF Press Commission has been established to run the EBFF website, publishing regular and occasional magazines, make statistics (European Ranking) and providing materials for the TV channels broadcasting our events. Currently, EBFF cooperated with the following TV stations: EBU (European Broadcasting Union), Eurosport, Russian NTV Plus, Arab Al Jazeera, QT Holland.
Both 2006 European Championships and two World Championships will be retransmitted by these TV channels, so it can be said that bodybuilding and fitness have never been covered and promoted in this way in the past. Moreover, most of the European and World Championships are available on video CD version and are distributed free to all European national federations.
The President’s Report delivered by Dr. Rafael Santonja, provided all vital information about the EBFF and its operations during the recent first term. Most of the projects are still implemented and will be continued in the upcoming tenure. To finish all these great jobs we will need to be very effective and very consistent. Not only EBFF but also national federations. We will have to act in more professional manner and with more capacity. This is a challenging task but these projects will decide how bodybuilding and fitness will be perceived by the entire world and will decide about the future of these beautiful physique sports.
ELECTIONS
2006 EBFF elections were the last part of the Congress in Bratislava. All national federations could propose candidates for all available positions in Executive Council, Committees and Commissions. Only Medical Commission, Press Commission and Executive Assistant to the President and Legal Adviser are nominated by the President.
39 persons representing 19 national federations were nominated for the elections. There was only one candidate for the EBFF President position, what means that the leadership of Dr. Rafael Santonja form Spain, his managing talents and his concepts have been fully accepted by the national federations and their delegates at the Congress. It’s the best opportunity to congratulate Dr. Santonja and to wish him the same persistence in action, the same energy and the same optimism like in the first term.
There were five candidates for three Vice-Presidents positions: Vladimir Dubinin (Russia), Pawel Filleborn (Poland), Vladimir Alexandrovich (Belarus), Milan Cizek (Slovakia) and Jose Ramos (Spain). Unfortunately, Belarus delegation didn’t receive visas on time and were absent. Dr. Milan Cizek, famous Slovak national bodybuilding coach, who has brought Slovak bodybuilders to the first position in the world, was a new face in this group. It was a tough competition since all three outgoing Vice-Presidents were very active during the first term and their work gained a lot of appreciation. Delegates decided in secret ballot that they will continue their activity in the next four years.
The most implacable duel took place for the General Secretary position. There were two candidates: Penny Leventeli of Greece and Stanislav Pesat of the Czech Republic. They were also rivals at the previous elections in Minsk, four years ago. After the first ballot they were tied. It was the only tie in the elections, so it was necessary to run the second round of ballot in which Mr. Pesat received one vote more than Ms. Leventeli and has become the new EBFF General Secretary.
Regarding the Committees, there were several candidates to each Committee. The candidate who received most votes has been nominated as a Chairman. Only the Disciplinary Committee has a new Chairman, Mr. Benedetto Mondello of Italy. All other Chairmen have been elected to its positions once again.
NEW EBFF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE TERM 2006-2010:
President: Dr. Rafael SANTONJA (Spain)
Vice-Presidents: Vladimir DUBININ (Russia)
Pawel FILLEBORN (Poland)
Jose RAMOS (Spain)
General Secretary: Stanislav PESAT (Czech Republic)
Executive Assistant to the President: Wanda TIERNEY (UK)
Bodybuilding Committee: Andrey DOLGOKIR (Ukraine)
Fitness Committee: Eva SUKUPOVA (Czech Republic)
Judges Committee: Erich JANNER (Germany)
Disciplinary Committee: Benedetto MONDELLO (Italy)
Technical and Educational Committee: William TIERNEY (UK)
Medical Commission: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm BEUKER (Germany)
Press Commission: Andrzej MICHALAK (Poland)
Legal Adviser: Axel BAUER (Austria)
NEW EBFF COMMITTEES MEMBERS FOR THE TERM 2006-2010:
BODYBUILDING COMMITTEE:
Chairman: Andrey DOLGOKIR (Ukraine)
Secretary: Peter URICEK (Slovakia)
Members: Andre WOUTERS (Belgium)
Rauf BUNYATALIYEV (Azerbaijan)
Laurentiu MIRONESCU (Romania)
FITNESS COMMITTEE:
Chairwoman: Eva SUKUPOVA (Slovakia)
Secretary: Wanda TIERNEY (UK)
Members: Zita OSIYEMI (Hungary)
Juliette BERGMANN (Holland)
Tatyana DOLGOKIR (Ukraine)
Gabriela MLSNOVA (Slovakia)
JUDGES COMMITTEE:
Chairman: Erich JANNER (Germany)
Secretary: Philippe LEFELLE (France)
Members: Istvan HUBER (Hungary)
Lubos MATEJICKA (Slovakia)
TECHNICAL & EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE:
Chairman: William TIERNEY (UK)
Secretary: Jordan LEVENTELIS (Greece)
Members: Jiri PRUDIL (Czech Republic)
George KATULIN (Belarus)
Jorj UNCIULEANU (Romania)
Demir SISER (Croatia)
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTE:
Chairman: Benedetto MONDELLO (Italy)
Secretary: Igor DELIEV (Ukraine)
MEDICAL COMMISSION (nomination):
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm BEUKER (Germany)
PRESS COMMISSION (nomination):
Chairman: Andrzej MICHALAK (Poland)
DOPING: A ROAD TO NOWHERE
DOPING: A ROAD TO NOWHERE
EBFF Educational Program against the use of doping in sport
(In co-operation with the World Anti-doping Agency)
We are currently using two levels of actions:
Written material, manuals, Powerpoint presentations.
Seminars and Symposiums
In the first group, we are printing and translating into four languages (English, Spanish, Polish and Italian) and translating now into French, Russian and German the following documents.
DOPING: A ROAD TO NOWHERE
Introduction
- Alternative training and nutrition technologies to the doping
- Nutritional techniques
- Doping substances. Identification and side effects
- Nutritional Supplementation as a natural alternative to doping with:
- Insulin
- Growth hormone
- EPO (human erythropoietin)
- Anabolic steroids
- Amphetamines and derives
- Diuretics
- Corticosteroids
This is a document that encourages using Training Techniques and proper nutrition as an alternative to doping and also, discouraging the potential use of doping substances through the description of harmful side-effects of doping and destruction of health at short, medium and long term.
